Cardiovascular disease is a major health problem and cause of death in Australia. Common risk factors associated with heart disease include high blood cholesterol, being overweight, age, high blood pressure (and smoking). A healthy diet and lifestyle can reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
The ageing and elderly population are at an increased risk in developing cardiovascular disease. Age alone is a risk factor for heart disease in adults, but these risks are greater when adding other factors such as, frailty, obesity, and diabetes. These additional risk factors enhance the cardiac risk factors that are associated with aging. It has also been found that, in both men and women, the risks associated with heart disease increase with age, largely due to the decline of estrogen and testosterone.
Metabolic Syndrome (or Syndrome X) is the name given to a cluster of symptoms or risk factors relating to heart disease and diabetes including abdominal (tummy) obesity, high blood cholesterol and fats, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, physical inactivity and smoking.
Many of the risk factors of cardiovascular disease relate to our diet. Our dietitians are most appropriately qualified to assist in the management of these risk factors and hence the prevention of associated morbidities.
If you, or someone you know, might benefit from seeing a dietitian in relation to heart disease, please contact us here. Alternatively, you can fill out our online referral form here.
Sources: Rodgers JL, Jones J, Bolleddu SI, et al. Cardiovascular Risks Associated with Gender and Aging. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis. 2019;6(2):19. Published 2019 Apr 27. doi:10.3390/jcdd6020019